Chapter Two
HAD THEY CALLED her smart?Mandy drew back inside the administration building’s eastern alcove, hoping she hadn’t been spotted. Smart? Ha.Mandy considered herself beyond stupid,considering she shouldn’t still be on the planet, let alone allow herself to be constantly distracted by the sexy barbarians. So much for keeping a low profile.
In the year she’d been at Welcome, she’d done her best to fit in. She discouraged attention, kept to herself, and had fended off her more serious pursuers with the silent treatment. Most of her fellow workers at the resort treated her kindly—she was in charge of handing out pay after all—and left her alone.
Yet it seemed like every time she turned around lately,someonehad been leaving her gifts on her doorstep. A flower, a sweet meat, some small gift. She knew the barbarians were to blame, because they constantly watched her. On shift or off, she forever felt their gazes on her, like a weight that seduced instead of frightened.
And Lord knew, she should have been terrorized. Both males stood a good head and a half taller than her slight five foot three. They had plenty of golden muscle exposed by naught but loincloths, boots, and those animal hide arm-bracer thingies that covered them from wrist to elbow. Both possessed long, black hair kept out of their eyes by warrior braids at their temples. And the feature that truly stunned her, their golden eyes. A golden center in the middle of a white orb. She’d seen plenty of barbarians in her time on the planet, but the only one who’d had an eye color not gold was Lore. One of his eyes was green, and she found his heterochromia made him that much sexier.
The very first time she’d spotted Lore and Zehn, she’d stared, entranced. For some reason, the two recent transfers mesmerized her. They weren’t all that different from the others who’d worked security, but she’d sensed these two to be more dangerous. Thus her campaign of avoidance.
What did she get for staying out of their way? Presents. And those heated glances, as if they’d seen her naked and relished the fact. She’d never given them any hint she was receptive to their gestures, yet they didn’t seem to care.
Kahl, one of the barbarians they’d replaced, had flirted, not minding her supposed shyness. But as much as she might have fantasized about sex with the big guy, something about him hadn’t felt right. Or perhaps she feared losing control, which she prized above all things. Lord knew the barbarians had a reputation for persuading a woman to lose all sense.
Look at her friend Lisa. At Skye. Both women had seemed independent and intelligent Earthers. And both of them were now mated to barbarians, never to leave the planet again.
The sex must be phenomenal, was all Mandy could think. She fanned herself, as much from the tropical heat as from impossible dreams about the giant warriors constantly plaguing her thoughts. Man, she missed sex. A lot.
Mandy had a nice figure, but she didn’t think herself all that amazing when it came to looks. She had plain brown hair, plain brown eyes, and boobs—her saving grace. Too bad the wrong type had always seen what lay under the surface…
She frowned, annoyed she couldn’t put that mess behind her. Lately, she’d been having nightmares, dredging up the ugliness from her past. Life should have been perfect on Ussed. Especially since no one knew she’d escaped Earth.
Mandy was smart. She spent her days in the least desired position in Welcome, working inside a building that helped the staff, far away from the splendor outdoors, as well as far away from visitors. When she did leave, she stayed to the employees’ side of the resort.
Had she been able to survive on her own in the jungle, she would have ventured east into barbarian lands. But they were sticklers about keeping offworlders out, and Mandy had no intention of sacrificing her freedom by mating into a clan. Not that they’d want her for more than a quickie anyway, but if they did, it made no sense to give up her independence to men fiercer than the ones she’d left behind.
She sighed, wishing, as always, that she was the normal, shy Earther she appeared to be. It just wasn’t in her nature. Typically, when a man leered or acted rude, she’d respond in kind. Here, she had to pretend to ignore the behavior, particularly in the case of her boss.
Had she not needed to stay in Welcome, at least for another few months, she’d have shoved Franklin’s head up his ass. But if she did that, he’d fire her, and the resort would shuttle her back to Vattikan 5, the small moon from where she’d pretended to come. The place had tight security, a heck of a lot better than Earth’s. On Vattikan 5, they’d surely spot her fake documents, discover her true identity, and return her to her owner. That couldnevercome to pass.
Just thinking about having to go back scared her senseless and opened up a mental door she thought she’d kept closed.
“What the frell?” Natla, her desk partner, gaped at the blaze in the trash receptacle. “Quick, Mandy, hand me the extinguisher.”
Mandy rushed to fetch it, putting out the fire—and her loss of control. “What happened?”
Natla, a Venetian with a great sense of humor and Mandy’s favorite coworker, shrugged. “I have no idea. Maybe something one of the employees tossed was flammable? Hard to tell now, though.”
Damn it.Keep it together, girl.“Huh. Weird.” Mandy quickly turned the conversation to the fight she’d witnessed outside.
“What I wouldn’t give to add one of them to my harem.” Natla sighed. She had four husbands and apparently was looking for a fifth. “I tried Kahl on for size, you know.”
“You did?” Mandy gaped.
“Oh yes.” She smiled. “He tired me out.Me.He also annoyed my husbands, and I knew he’d never work into my rotation. I had to let him go to keep the peace with the guys. I tell you, you have no idea what you’re missing.” Natla paused. “So when are you going to say yes to the new guys?”
“Excuse me?”
They both paused as a few of the dock workers came in to grab their pay, then left. “You know.” Natla nodded at the door. “My favorite pair of muscle men have been eyeballing you since they got here. When are you going to say yes and put them out of their misery?”
Mandy flushed. “No way. If anything, they’re looking at me only because I’m standing nearyou.” Natla was gorgeous, especially by human standards. Venetians and Earthers shared common ancestry, but the Venetians had an uncommon beauty that was nearly mesmerizing to the opposite sex.
“Good try, honey. But they haven’t glanced my way once. And after seeing what Kahl could do, I wouldn’t say no to trying that pair on for size. But they just aren’t interested.” Natla grinned. “Come on. Live a little. You’ve been alone since you got here. It’s been nearly a year, Mandy… Unless I’m missing something? Is there someone special I don’t know about?”
“No. It’s just…” Mandy glanced away. “I still miss Paul.” Her imaginary dead fiancé.
Natla groaned. “I’m sorry. I should know better than to tease you. But you know you have to move on. It’s not natural for a woman to go so long without sex.” Not for a Venetian. On Venus 4, females had inhumanly high drives, thus Natla’s many husbands.
